A Clean and Simple Easter Chick

by Joanne James20. April 2022 09:00

Today I'm sharing another clean and simple card that was inspired by a few challenges:

      

I wouldn't normally gravitate towards the spring pastel palette over at Sunday Stamps, but the minute I saw it I couldn't help thinking it would be perfect for an Easter chick. So I paired it with the current challenge over at AAA Cards where they are looking for 'small and few' paired with Easter or spring for a fluffy chick (perfect for the CASology cue word too) and a few pastel Easter eggs hidden in the grass - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I used my blending brushes to create a blended corner panel of yellow 'sunrays' and a little green across the bottom for the base of my scene, then added some diecut eggs from the retired Chick Dies in two shades of pale pink behind some grass, cut using one of the Horizon dies. My Easter chick is courtesy of the Birthday Chick Dies - I had completely overlooked this little diecut chick and discovered it when I was using these dies on this card earlier this month and thought it would make the perfect tiny Easter chick:

 

An Easter sentiment from the retired set 'Welcome Easter' completes my card. I know Easter has already been and gone, but it's always good to have a few cards set aside for next year - when Easter rolls around I never seem to have enough!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

What's Cookin? CCS 465

by Joanne James12. April 2022 12:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Bhavya is hosting for the month of April and it's time for her first sketch challenge of the month: 

       

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. For my card today I decided to grab my retiring 'What's Cookin'' stamp set and Cookin' Dies and create a simple card for the baker or would-be chef in your life - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I almost passed over the colours at Just Add Ink this week, when it occurred to me that they really reminded me of Cornishware pottery, with its distinctive blue or red and vanilla stripes, so I decided that a Cornishware-inspired mixing bowl, along with a little texture from my neutral chopping board and mixing spoon and a pop of red from a Cherry Cobbler sentiment and twine bow were just what I needed for today's clean and simple card. Check out the texture that the die gives the chopping board on the closeup below:

 

I also added a little additional decoration to the inside of my card - aren't those miniature chef hats just the cutest?!

 

I can't believe this set is on the retiring list this year; I had so many more plans for it and am really sad to see it leave the annual catalogue. I will definitely be holding on to mine - I love to spend time in the kitchen and I know I'll find many more uses for it. If you would like to be the proud owner of the What's Cookin' stamp set and co-ordinating Cookin' Dies, they will only be around for another couple of weeks, and even then only whilst stocks last, so do get your order in sooner rather than later! I'm also sharing today's card over at Less Is More where the theme this week is 'occupations'  - this set is perfect for chefs, bakers and kitchen enthusiasts! 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I love to cook and my family suggest I'm quite good at it. Whilst out for lunch at the weekend, my son was tucking into his lasagne and when asked if everything was ok with his meal, he announced "It's good - but not as good as my Mum's!" I'm not sure there's anything you can reply to that; if only all problems could be solved with a homemade lasagne!

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Embossed Dandelions Notecard

by Joanne James11. April 2022 11:15

Today I'm sharing a card I made at the weekend that uses Jen M's great layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and also uses the current Color Hues combination of pink and green:

   

Jen's sketch has a lovely open panel that can be used in so many different ways. I decided it would be a great place to have one last hurrah with my Dandelions 3D embossing folder - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I simply embossed my dandelions on a panel of white cardstock and added Polished Pink to the seed heads and Pear Pizazz to the stems lightly with a blender brush for just a hint of colour to the raised elements. I added them to a base covered with a piece of Polished Pink In-Colour designer paper and added a simple heat embossed sentiment from 'Flowing Flowers' and a trio of iridescent rhinestones for some subtle sparkle:

 

I think this embossing folder is so pretty and a great way to make texture a feature on an otherwise clean and layered card. 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Just a quick post from me today - I have a long 'to do' list that I'm trying to rattle through and a new annual catalogue pre-order that has just arrived that I want to get the opportunity to play with!

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Good Luck From All Of Us

by Joanne James10. April 2022 20:10

I have an extra card today to share a card a special card I made for Rebecca and her hockey team mates to say goodbye to one of their members who is leaving at the end of the season to go to university. I thought the motley crew of animals in the retiring 'From All of Us' stamp set would be perfect for a team farewell - take a look:

 

I used a bright and fun unconventional colour scheme to colour my group of animals and fussy cut them and placed on the centre of a larger A5 card, over a simple scored panel of Coastal Cabana - I needed room for lots of messages inside! I added a 'good luck' message using a retired alphabet set either side of my colourful gang:

 

I added one other stamp to the inside to finish:

 

Cute, right?! This is a great stamp if you need a collective card from a group.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I'm sharing this card over at SUO Challenges with the theme is 'animals and critters' and The Alphabet Challenge where their theme is 'A for Animal Antics' - I think my collective definitely look they could get up to some mischief!

I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Pierced Blooms And A Hippo Birthday PP586

by Joanne James10. April 2022 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Anne Marie to host this week and she has a bright colour challenge for us to work with:

    

I love Anne Marie's bright and sunny colours this week and ended up making a couple of cards. First up I used this week's layout over at Hand Stamped Sentiments and went with some florals, care of my Pierced Blooms Dies - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I diecut a trio of layered flowers and leaves and paired them with a piece of Daffodil Delight coloured Hand Penned designer series paper and used white as my neutral. A few polished pink gems add a touch of sparkle to the front of my card:

 

And a little extra stamping inside completes my card:

 

I wanted to try and use these colours on something other than flowers, so made a second card using the retiring 'Hippo Happiness' stamp set and co-ordinating Hippo & Friends Dies:

 

Some simple stamping and diecutting is all there is to it. The best part about this card is definitely the punny sentiment though - Hippo birthday...

 

... 2 ewe! Isn't that just so sweet?!

 

I used the sketch over at TGIF Challenges this week for the layout for this card and I am also linking up over at SUO Challenges where they are all about 'animals and critters' for their current challenge.

Two very different cards but I think both work with these colours. Which one do you prefer? Do leave me a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's projects for you to pin for easy reference:

 

 

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

Enjoy your day; we have some chores to take care of and we are out to lunch - should be a good day! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used (where still available): 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.
 
 

Last Chance - The List of 2021-22 Retiring Products Has Been Announced!

by Joanne James23. March 2022 19:00

It's here - the list of products that will be retiring from this year's annual catalogue has been announced!

You can see and download the full list of items retiring from the current Annual catalogue in PDF form by CLICKING HERE.

You can see and download the full list of items retiring from the current Annual catalogue in Excel spreadsheet form by CLICKING HERE.

Retiring products are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST, so if you've still items on your wish list from this year's annual catalogue, you need to check the retiring lists and if they're on it put an order in pronto! Don't forget to add this month's online hostess code: RWYP3CVT

If you want to stock up on any of the retiring in-colour items and you haven't already done so, especially re-inkers, I would urge you to do that sooner rather than later as they are always the first things to sell out. 

Hop online to get the latest on stock availability and place your orders. Some retiring items are discounted by up to 50% so these may well be snapped up quickly. 

I will to be back tomorrow with a creative post; until then, happy shopping!

Discounts on Last Chance Products From 7pm Today!

by Joanne James23. March 2022 09:00

 

It's nearly time to see all of the lovely items that will be retiring from the current 2021-22 Annual Catalogue!  I'm just popping by to let you know that the Last-Chance Products promotion will go live at 7pm this evening, UK time. All items retiring will be available for LAST CHANCE purchase, with some items that can be discounted by up to 50% - yay for a bargain!

As soon as the list is available, I will upload it here on my blog and share in to my Crafty Owl Creatives Facebook Group.

So set your alarms if you want to be at the front of the queue - there will be bargains to be had!

Last Chance 2021 July-December Mini Catalogue Retiring Products Announced and Clearance Rack Update!

by Joanne James1. December 2021 08:00

No creative post from me today, but I do have some other great news for you: the list of products that will be retiring from this year's July-December mini catalogue has been announced!

You can see and download the full list of items retiring from the current July-December mini catalogue , and their discounts, by CLICKING HERE.

Retiring products are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST, so if you've still items on your wish list from this year's July-December mini catalogue, you need to check the retiring lists and if they're on it put an order in pronto! Don't forget to add this month's online hostess code: K2S2CKBE

Hop online to get the latest on stock availability and place your orders. Some retiring items are discounted by up to 50% so these may well be snapped up quickly. 

As if that wasn't enough for you today, the Clearance Rack has also updated. There are some great bargains to be had, especially on retired kits - these would make great Christmas presents! You can see everything that is on offer HERE.

I will be back tomorrow with a creative post and an update on the retiring list; until then, happy shopping!

Last Chance To Buy - January-June Mini Catalogue Retiring List Is Here!

by Joanne James1. June 2021 19:00

 

It's here - the list of products that will be retiring from this year's January-June mini catalogue has been officially announced and any price reductions are live!

You can see and download the full list of items retiring from the current January-June mini catalogue by CLICKING HERE or alternatively view the information in a filterable Excel file HERE (this is often easier as you can filter by language, for example)

Retiring products are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST, so if you've still items on your wish list from this year's mini catalogue, you need to check the retiring lists and if they're on it put an order in pronto! Don't forget to add this month's online hostess code: UC3HGBHT 

This year's mini catalogue will finish on 30 June 2021; hop online to get the latest on stock availability and place your orders. Some retiring items are discounted by up to 50% so these may well be snapped up quickly.  Time is of the essence!

 

I will be back tomorrow with a creative post; until then, happy shopping!

2020-21 Annual Catalogue Retiring Lists Are Here

by Joanne James24. March 2021 19:00

It's here - the list of products that will be retiring from this year's annual catalogue has been announced!

You can see and download the full list of items retiring from the current Annual catalogue by CLICKING HERE or alternatively view the information in a filterable Excel file HERE (this is often easier as you can filter by language, for example)

Retiring products are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST, so if you've still items on your wish list from this year's annual catalogue, you need to check the retiring lists and if they're on it put an order in pronto! Don't forget to add this month's online hostess code: 3XTNB243

If you want to stock up on any of the retiring in-colour items and you haven't already done so, especially re-inkers, I would urge you to do that sooner rather than later as they are always the first things to sell out and some cardstock colours are already out of stock.  

Remember too that this year's annual catalogue will finish on 2 May 2021, a whole month sooner than usual to make way for the new catalogue. Time is of the essence!

Hop online to get the latest on stock availability and place your orders. Some retiring items are discounted by up to 75% so these may well be snapped up quickly. 

I will be back tomorrow with a creative post and an update on the retiring list; until then, happy shopping!

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About Me

Hi I'm Joanne and live in Northampton and when I'm not looking after my husband and two beautiful children, am an avid crafter with a passion for all things Stampin' Up!

I must confess that I have never been a big rubber stamper - until I discovered Stampin' Up! that is. I love the fact that I can get such great results with co-ordinating stamps, inks, papers and punches - the possibilities are endless! Join me on my stamping journey as I share the things I love and be inspired to create amazing things yourself!

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This is my personal blog and is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up! Stampin' Up! is a registered trademark of Stampin' up! Inc. I hope you find my blog a plentiful source of ideas and personal inspiration but please don't copy my designs for contest submission or use for classes, publication or sale without express permission.